The Context Creator extension allows users to explore the files in their workspace, select files using checkboxes, and generate a single output file containing the content of the selected files. It provides an intuitive tree-view interface integrated into the Activity Bar and includes features such as toggling all file selections and generating consolidated files with ease. This tool is tailored for generating and sharing context effortlessly with AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.
Features
Tree View of Workspace Files
Displays all files and directories in the workspace.
Excludes ".git" and "node_modules" directories from the view.
Checkbox Selection
Use checkboxes to select files directly in the tree view.
Toggle between checked and unchecked states.
Select/Deselect All Files
A command to toggle the selection state of all files.
Generate Context File
Combine the content of selected files into a single output file.
Specify a custom filename via an input box.
Installation
Open VS Code.
Go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X).
Search for Context Creator.
Click Install.
Usage Instructions
Activating the Extension
After installation, the extension appears in the Activity Bar as Context Creator.
Click on it to open the file tree view.
Commands
Command
Description
How to Use
Context Creator: Generate Context File
Combines selected files into one output file.
Right-click the view title or use Command Palette.
Context Creator: Toggle All Files
Selects or deselects all files in the tree view.
Right-click the view title or use Command Palette.
Selecting Files
Open the Files view under Context Creator in the Activity Bar.
Click the checkboxes to select or deselect files.
Use the Toggle All Files command to select/deselect all files at once.
Generating a File
Select the desired files in the Files tree view.
Run the Context Creator: Generate Context File command.
Enter a filename (without an extension) in the input box.
View the generated .txt file in your workspace.
Configuration
The extension does not currently provide user-configurable settings but supports future extensions for customization.
Key Features in Code
Tree View with Checkbox Support: The ContextCreatorProvider class manages the file tree and the checkbox states.
State Management: Tracks checked files and allows toggling of individual or all files.
Output Generation: Combines the contents of selected files and writes them into a user-specified file.
Installation via VSIX
You can download the .vsix file from GitHub Releases and install it manually:
Open VS Code.
Go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X).
Click the three dots (...) in the top-right corner → Install from VSIX....
Select the downloaded .vsix file.
Future Improvements
Add user settings for excluding additional directories or file types.
Allow file preview before generating the output.
Add multi-workspace support.
Known Issues
Files in deeply nested directories may take longer to process.
Large files may impact performance during content concatenation.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Submit a pull request or raise an issue on the GitHub repository.
